What happens to Clemency Applications? Very little. This is the sad story of the progress of a Clemency Application as it travels around the Justice Department.
A 14-year Pardon Application Process?
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Monday, March 4, 2013
This article from Mother Jones is just another story about government employee unions and their influence on mass incarceration.
It may be more comfortable for progressives to place the blame on conservatives, but the financial incentives for mass incarceration clearly belong to those who depend on paychecks for prisoners.
Big Labor's Lock 'Em Up Mentality
How otherwise progressive unions stand in the way of a more humane correctional system.
| Fri Feb. 22, 2013 3:01 AM PST
Protesters rallied against a union campaign to save Illinois' notorious Tamms prison. The closure, by order of Gov. Pat Quinn, was celebrated by human rights and prison reform groups, and by the local activists who had fought for years to do away with what they saw as a torture chamber in their backyard. But it might have been accomplished sooner were it not for a competing progressive faction: Big Labor.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Justice Department can be smarter about sequester - The Hill's Congress Blog
Good article in The Hill's Congress Blog - Worth a read.
Justice Department can be smarter about sequester - The Hill's Congress Blog
Saturday, March 2, 2013
Barack the Unmerciful
It doesn't hurt to revisit this piece from Reason about Obam's Clemency. Seventeen more Pardons, still only one Commutation. Let's hope they are coming.
Barack the Unmerciful
Barack the Unmerciful
Friday, March 1, 2013
Anti-Marijuana Group Sucks at Messaging/Telling the Truth
There is probably some way to follow the money for this organization.
Anti-Marijuana Group Sucks at Messaging/Telling the Truth
Anti-Marijuana Group Sucks at Messaging/Telling the Truth
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Interesting article in the Guardian about US Prosecutors representing drug cartels.
US drugs prosecutors switch sides to defend accused Colombian traffickers
After working to take down cartels, former officials say America's 'war on drugs' is misguided and the human cost too high
Today in the New York Times - Marc Mauer from the Sentencing Project talks about incarceration trends in the United States. This is a significant fiscal issue as well as an issue that speaks to civil liberties and justice.
Incarceration Rates for Blacks Have Fallen Sharply, Report Shows
By ERICA GOODE
Published: February 27, 201
Incarceration rates for black Americans dropped sharply from 2000 to
2009, especially for women, while the rate of imprisonment for whites
and Hispanics rose over the same decade, according to a report released
Wednesday by a prison research and advocacy group in Washington.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Justice Department can be smarter about sequester - The Hill's Congress Blog
This piece in The Hill by Ethan Nadelmann from Drug Policy Alliance answers Attorney General Eric Holder's report to the Appropriations Comittee about the cost of justice. Sometimes more cost equals less justice.
Justice Department can be smarter about sequester - The Hill's Congress Blog
Justice Department can be smarter about sequester - The Hill's Congress Blog
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Is Your Local Police Department Using Pictures of Pregnant Women and Children for Target Practice?
This article from Reason is shocking, but not surprising. I often wonder about gun violence and how it is related to the militarization of our own law enforcement agencies. I am offended when I see the snipers on the roof of the White House. The intense preoccupation of our Public Servants with their own security coarsens our society.
Is Your Local Police Department Using Pictures of Pregnant Women and Children for Target Practice?
Is Your Local Police Department Using Pictures of Pregnant Women and Children for Target Practice?
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Friday, February 1, 2013
Good discussion of the next four states for marijuana legalization
It's been only two months since Washington and Colorado voters
legalized recreational marijuana, but the advocates who raised
millions to pass Amendment 64 and Initiative 502 aren't wasting
time celebrating. In addition to helping craft the rules and
regulations in the Centennial and Evergreen states, they're also
providing support to state legislators who will introduce marijuana
bills—more than 20 altogether—in 2013.
"While not all of them will pass," says Morgan Fox of the
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), the debates around them will be
different than in years past. "What I'm hearing is that a dam
broke," says Jill Harris, managing director of strategic
initiatives for the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA). "Before Colorado
and Washington, the idea of legal marijuana existed in the realm of
fantasy. But after Colorado and Washington, we can have a more
serious conversation."
These 4 States Will Reform Their Marijuana Laws in 2013
The pot reform movement picks up speed.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Watch List: Ryan Release, But No Pardon
From the blog Pardon Power by P.S. Ruckman
Always good information
Watch List: Ryan Release, But No Pardon
Always good information
Watch List: Ryan Release, But No Pardon
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
This is something we should remember about Regan and Amnesty for immigrants.
Conservatives may be reminded what their party was like in the 1980s. Many young Republicans may become informed. This NPR piece is something that present "social conservatives" will be surprised by.A Reagan Legacy: Amnesty For Illegal Immigrants
"I believe in the idea of amnesty for those
who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they
may have entered illegally," Ronald Reagan said in 1984.
But the bill also made any immigrant who'd entered the country before 1982 eligible for amnesty — a word not usually associated with the father of modern conservatism.
In his renewed push for an immigration overhaul this week, President Obama called for Republican support for a bill to address the growing population of illegal immigrants in the country. This time, however, Republicans know better than to tread near the politically toxic A-word.
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Reinvigorating the Federal Pardon Process: What the President Can Learn from the States | ACS
Publication Date:
January 24, 2013 The presidential exercise of the pardon power, or lack thereof, has been the subject of national conversation in recent months. As Margaret Colgate Love describes in her Issue Brief, this much discussed, but not often used, executive power and process "has lost its vigor, its integrity, and its sense of purpose.” The latest assessments of the federal pardon process suggest a process plagued by racial and class disparities, and in at least one case, misconduct on the part of the Pardon Attorney.
Reinvigorating the Federal Pardon Process: What the President Can Learn from the States | ACS
Obama's Pot Dilemma: Is It Time to Evolve?
Obama's Pot Dilemma: Is It Time to Evolve?
When the clock struck midnight this past Wednesday, dozens of pot smokers lit up in plain sight at Seattle's Space Needle. At that exact moment, the state of Washington's liberal marijuana law went into effect. No federal officials were in sight. No arrests were made, even though smoking marijuana in public is still subject to a fine in Washington. Law enforcement officials seem to want to stay as far away as possible from these types of celebrations, so as not to open up a legal can of worms.
Obama's Pot Dilemma: Is It Time to Evolve?
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Professor Doug Bermans blog has very good commentary about the NY Times article on gun laws and mandatory minimums. It is worth the read.
More proof mandatory sentencing laws are never really mandatory and can enhance disparities
One
typical argument for mandatory sentencing provisions, whether in the
form of statutory minimums or rigid guideline structures, is that they
ensure all persons who commit a certain kind of crime will be sure to
get a certain kind of sentence. But even if one believes such
one-size-fits-all approach to sentencing can be justified normatively in
some settings, real-world evidence reveals again and again and again
that criminal justice actors will devise various ways (some hidden, some
in the open) to avoid consistent application of these mandates.
The latest proof of this reality appears in this lengthy article from yesterday's New York Times, which is headlined "Prison Isn’t as Mandatory as State’s Gun Laws Say." Here are excerpts:Go to: This link
Manifest Injustice !
PS Ruckman's fine blog Pardon Power has another great post today.
Today, Pulitzer Prize winner Barry Siegel's new book, Manifest Injustice: The True Story of a Convicted Murderer and the Lawyers Who Fought for His Freedom, is on the shelves of the Nation's bookstores (see ad here).
The book is about the case of one William Macumber whose situation was highlighted in many of our posts (click here). We have asked (and gained) permission to quote the following passages from the book: This is the link - Manifest Injustice !
Friday, January 18, 2013
The War on Fast Food: Can a D.C. Suburb Fight Fat with Zoning?
Maryland's Prince George's County has the highest obesity rates in the Washington, D.C. area. Now the county council is considering a bill that would give it zoning authority to keep new fast food eateries out of its jurisdiction.
But is tackling obesity as easy as keeping cheeseburgers and fries out of people's hands?
The author of the bill, Karen Toles, thinks so and tells Reason she's just trying to hold fast-food restaurants accountable for "preying" on her constituents. The Center for Consumer Freedom's Justin Wilson says the bill violates the rights of customers and businessmen and argues that “obesity is far more complicated than blaming...one single industry.”
The bill's worst enemy maybe Prince George's itself: The county recently loaned $300,000 to a local businessman so he could open up two new Little Caesars pizza restaurants.
The bill is scheduled for a vote later this year.
About 2.30 minutes. Produced by Joshua Swain and hosted by Kennedy.
The War on Fast Food: Can a D.C. Suburb Fight Fat with Zoning?
Thursday, January 17, 2013
January 17, 2013
The
Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the most senior member of
the Senate, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) again spoke out against the War
on Drugs today during a briefing on the Senate Judiciary Committee’s
upcoming agenda.“The fact that so many people, especially young people, go to prison for a relatively minor thing, a drug offense. And then you ask, why can’t they get jobs afterward? Why do they have problems from then on?Senator Leahy also addressed the disproportionate toll marijuana prohibition takes on people of color:
I think we have spent tens of billions, hundreds of billions of dollars on the so-called War on Drugs. Well, we’ve lost.” – Sen. Leahy
http://blog.norml.org/2013/01/17/senator-leahy-after-spending-billions-on-the-war-on-drugs-well-weve-lost/
Monday, January 14, 2013
The New York Times has an article about another medical marijuana provider being prosecuted. This is such a sad and consistant story that it is increasingly confounding that Congress has not done anything about removing marijuana from the CSA.
Just another reason why citizens question the ability of these isolated individuals serving in Congress and who are given the priviledge of representing us. When even more momentum builds and it is obvious that the majority abhors this excessive use of government force being used to prosecute people for life style choices - perhaps our elected leaders will run to the front of the line and insist they are leading.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Bloomberg - Daddy Knows Best
Radley Belko writing for the Huffington Post shines the light on Mayor Bloomberg's latest ill considered decision. Bloomberg is now practicing medicine in all city hospitals in New York. We have given our government the mandate to keep us safe from all harm, Bloomberg is now acting as citizens physician.
link to article
link to article
The Nation: Re Weldon Angelos
The Nation: Re Weldon Angelos
PS Ruckman on his pardon power blog shares his thoughts about Presidential Pardon power. Sasha Abromsky has written an article for The Nation about the case of Weldon Angelos and the lack of attention paid to his case.
PS Ruckman on his pardon power blog shares his thoughts about Presidential Pardon power. Sasha Abromsky has written an article for The Nation about the case of Weldon Angelos and the lack of attention paid to his case.
Friday, January 4, 2013
GROUP PETITION FOR COMMUTATION FOR FIVE ELDERLY MARIJUANA OFFENDERS SERVING SENTENCES OF LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE FOR SELLING MARIJUANA
This is the link to a Group Petition for Commutation submitted by the law office of Michael Kennedy for five elderly non-violent, marijuana inmates serving life sentences in Federal Prison for selling marijuana. This petition was submitted in the middle of November of 2012. Please read it and let us know if you could support the concept of Group Clemency.
Wisconsin: Scott Walker, Blithering Pardon Idiot
Wisconsin: Scott Walker, Blithering Pardon Idiot
PS Ruckman's blog Pardon Power is a wealth of information about the exercise of Clemency by state governors and by Presidents. If you're interested in this powerful execuative power you can't find a better source for statistics and analysis.
PS Ruckman's blog Pardon Power is a wealth of information about the exercise of Clemency by state governors and by Presidents. If you're interested in this powerful execuative power you can't find a better source for statistics and analysis.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
A very good article on AlterNet written by Kristen Gwynne about five elderly marijuana inmates serving sentences of Life Without Parole for selling marijuana.
The Law Office of Michael Kennedy submitted a Petition for Commutation to President Obama asking him to commute the sentences of these five non-violent, marijuana offenders who are serving sentences of Life Without Parole for selling marijuana.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
DOJ Inspector General Faults Pardon Attorney for Misleading the White House About Clarence Aaron's Clemency Petition
Inspector General's report of investigation of the DOJ department of the Pardon Attorney
Pardon attorney, Rogers is found deficient and evasive in his advice to the President concerning Clemency Petitions.
DOJ Inspector General Faults Pardon Attorney for Misleading the White House About Clarence Aaron's Clemency Petition
Pardon attorney, Rogers is found deficient and evasive in his advice to the President concerning Clemency Petitions.
DOJ Inspector General Faults Pardon Attorney for Misleading the White House About Clarence Aaron's Clemency Petition
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Pardon Attorney Scandal: The Experts Speak
Pardon Attorney Scandal: The Experts Speak
P S Ruckman has the most authoriative blog about Presidential Clemency - Lots of other good stuff.
P S Ruckman has the most authoriative blog about Presidential Clemency - Lots of other good stuff.
Monday, December 24, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Ask Now About the Pardon Power
This is an article written on the Huffington Post by
Mark Osler professor of law at the University of Saint Thomas - it begins
"The pardon power is the drunk uncle of presidential politics, awkwardly ignored until there is a disaster. It has been the source of great controversy over the past three decades, with clemency granted to Richard Nixon, Marc Rich, and Scooter Libby, but too few others. Yet, the pardon power and how it should be used rarely comes up as a subject of discussion in presidential campaigns. This fall's debate moderators should change that."
This is an important discussion of the pardon power of the President, it's use and more important, it's lack of use. Releasing non-violent, marijuana only offender would be a start toward fiscal responsibility and civil liberties.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-osler/ask-now-about-the-pardon-_b_1902029.html
This is an article written on the Huffington Post by
Mark Osler professor of law at the University of Saint Thomas - it begins
"The pardon power is the drunk uncle of presidential politics, awkwardly ignored until there is a disaster. It has been the source of great controversy over the past three decades, with clemency granted to Richard Nixon, Marc Rich, and Scooter Libby, but too few others. Yet, the pardon power and how it should be used rarely comes up as a subject of discussion in presidential campaigns. This fall's debate moderators should change that."
This is an important discussion of the pardon power of the President, it's use and more important, it's lack of use. Releasing non-violent, marijuana only offender would be a start toward fiscal responsibility and civil liberties.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-osler/ask-now-about-the-pardon-_b_1902029.html
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
16 Amish in Ohio Reject Beard-Cutting Plea Deals - ABC News
16 Amish in Ohio Reject Beard-Cutting Plea Deals - ABC News
This article about the prosecution of 16 Amish for beard cutting is a fine example of what is wrong with the Federal Justice Department. It's difficult to understand why this is a federal crime and why these men face a 20 year sentence to federal prison. This is fiscally irresponsible and contrary to civil liberties.
This gives a birds eye view of the plea bargaining system and how it workd for those who are targeted for indictment.
This article about the prosecution of 16 Amish for beard cutting is a fine example of what is wrong with the Federal Justice Department. It's difficult to understand why this is a federal crime and why these men face a 20 year sentence to federal prison. This is fiscally irresponsible and contrary to civil liberties.
This gives a birds eye view of the plea bargaining system and how it workd for those who are targeted for indictment.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
This is written by a prisoner serving Life Without Parole for a non-violent drug offense.
All prisons have a rec yard. All prisons have the elderly of which many are ill, many are in wheel chairs. Here, at this prison we too have many in wheel chairs. So, I thought, I cut my thoughts into the night and came up with..... the show. For I wondered even those sitting in wheel chairs in cells. I believe that they ,most are hanging on for some thing , any thing . So immobile ,they are,are like fingernails slowly, slowly digging a deep grave..... I had to do something..... Here, in the rec yard there is one very large tree. The tree umbrellas a circumference of huge shade. So, I sent out the message of the joining through runners .The message, for those in wheel chairs to come under the wide cool shade last sunday. To come and enjoy, simply enjoy..... And, they came, all assisted by being pushed by a friend..... That day I arrranged for a short young man with a round face and huge round glasses to tell many jokes. With the jokes cool cups of lemonade were circulated. Gulps and sips accompanied the belly laughter. Then, I, told a funny story of Fresno Freddy, the prison mouse. After that ,a lone young man strung his guitar and sang lively tunes, finished so softly. That tears met the dry ground. The prison ground that absorbs human moisture,life,so quickly. Yet ,that day I believe will not go quickly from the minds of the many ill in those wheel chairs. Chairs when leaving that afternoon, bounced slightly across patches of dirt and grass..... I stood there ,the last ,under that tree that witnesses so much, so much over the years. Watched them fade into the waiting cell blocks. Waiting to seal them up one by one, one by one behind the steel doors.... To the free world . This is Amercia's prisons today. I know , truly I know..... Yes, caged the must but feel for the latter.....Please!
I subscribe myself,
George Martorano
Date: 7-24-12
I subscribe myself,
George Martorano
Date: 7-24-12
Friday, July 20, 2012
Federal Prison & Post Conviction Blog: Stanford Reportedly Designated to USP Coleman II
Federal Prison & Post Conviction Blog: Stanford Reportedly Designated to USP Coleman II: The Bureau of Prisons has reportedly placed Allen Stanford at the United States Penitentiary Coleman II, FL to serve his 110-year sentence....
Monday, July 16, 2012
Eugene Fischer Prisoner of the War on Drugs was released today after 25 years in Federal Prison. Eugene was sentenced to Life Without Parole for a non-violent marijuana offense. He is one of the prisoners featured on the website http://www.lifeforpot.com
Eugene is a remarkable man and spent his time in prison writing books, plays, teaching, getting a masters degree and most importantly for Gene, developing a meaningful spiratual life.
Although I have never met Eugene, I consider him to be a dear and compassionate friend. I have only corresponded with him over a period of two years, but these contacts have been a source of inspiration and support. He of course understood my passion to reform sentencing for non-violent drug offenders and we had a common focus and goal. Today, knowing that Eugene is free somehow seems to give me freedom also
Monday, July 9, 2012
Drug Policy Alliance is an organization for everyone who has questions and concerns about the world wide war on drugs. If you are not familiar with this organization - follow the link
http://www.drugpolicy.org/facts/drug-facts/marijuana-facts
http://www.drugpolicy.org/facts/drug-facts/marijuana-facts
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Clemency Grant Rates: Recent Presidents
Clemency Grant Rates: Recent Presidents
PR Ruckman Pardon Power has a wealth of information about Clemency both state and federal.
PR Ruckman Pardon Power has a wealth of information about Clemency both state and federal.
This is the blog for Life for Pot - A web site that highlights non-violent marijuana only offenders who have received the sentence of life without parole for marijuana offenses.
It has been a while since I posted on this blog. For the most part this is due to the time it has taken to develop a plan for the organization Life for Pot. Presently we are working on a project that involves senior inmates who have been imprisoned for over 15 years who have received sentences of Life Without Parole.
Many who are displayed on the internet as receiving life without parole were postee on sites prior to their appeals being completed. On our site we have attempted to vet these individuals and make sure that they were not released on appeal, or resentenced on appeal.
When I find these individuals on prisoner sites I always investigate and can't rest till I know that I have not overlooked the obvious. Recently there was an article written - I believe on alternet that was about the ten most outrageous sentences. It included a federal inmate that had been sentenced to Life without Parole for a non-violent marijuana only offense. The name was vaguely familiar, but I did not remember him.
He was not in the BOP data base and after some searching, I was able to find legal documents that he had been resentenced to 12 year - he has since been released.
I would like to be able to highlight these egrigious sentences so please, if you know of someone who should be included please contact me.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sheriff:
CHEESE LED TO FALSE RESULTS FOR COCAINE IN ASHEVILLE
ASHEVILLE - A favorite food of millions may have been the culprit in false
drug-test results that led to a California man's jailing on cocaine charges.
The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office said Friday an enzyme present in cheese
and possibly some types of dough appeared to have yielded false results that
led to cocaine charges against Antonio Hernandez Carranza. Hernandez spent
four days in the Buncombe County jail until state lab results showed the
substances in the back of his truck were tortilla dough, cheese and other
food.
Buncombe Sheriff Van Duncan and Lt. Randy Sorrells said they only recently
learned how the common food can fool drug tests. Positive tests are
considered probable cause and can be used to bring charges and jail suspects
under high bonds, effectively keeping them imprisoned.
Along with revealing the test flaw, police are also now saying they will
reimburse Hernandez for $400 in food taken following his May 1 arrest.
The plight of the Mexican national, who is a legal resident but speaks
little English, angered Latino advocates and brought widespread attention to
the Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff said officials are trying to speak with the president of the
company of at least one of the test manufacturers.
"What we are going to do now is check with the manufacturers and find out
what they have found can cause false positives and put that into the
training with our officers," Duncan said.
Three different field tests indicated the presence of cocaine in food
Hernandez said was a gift for his sister in Johnson City, Tenn.
Already in jail under a $1,500 bond for failing to heed blue lights and
sirens and driving while intoxicated - a charge later dropped after a
breathalyzer test showed no alcohol - Hernandez was charged with cocaine
possession and his total bond raised to $300,000.
Deputies say they rushed the food to a state lab for a more definitive test,
where they soon learned there were no drugs involved. Hernandez was found
guilty of failing to heed lights and sirens and let go on time served.
Confused deputies later redid the tests, which rely on a color change, and
noticed that cheese set it off the most, as did the dough, to a lesser
extent, Sorrells said.
They then went to state lab technicians.
"They said, 'It's not common, but it is known. It's not the first time they
had ever heard of it," Sorrells said.
Deputies have contacted the manufacturers of the tests to try to get more
information, he said.
The sheriff, meanwhile, said his office would reimburse Hernandez for the
food.
CHEESE LED TO FALSE RESULTS FOR COCAINE IN ASHEVILLE
ASHEVILLE - A favorite food of millions may have been the culprit in false
drug-test results that led to a California man's jailing on cocaine charges.
The Buncombe County Sheriff's Office said Friday an enzyme present in cheese
and possibly some types of dough appeared to have yielded false results that
led to cocaine charges against Antonio Hernandez Carranza. Hernandez spent
four days in the Buncombe County jail until state lab results showed the
substances in the back of his truck were tortilla dough, cheese and other
food.
Buncombe Sheriff Van Duncan and Lt. Randy Sorrells said they only recently
learned how the common food can fool drug tests. Positive tests are
considered probable cause and can be used to bring charges and jail suspects
under high bonds, effectively keeping them imprisoned.
Along with revealing the test flaw, police are also now saying they will
reimburse Hernandez for $400 in food taken following his May 1 arrest.
The plight of the Mexican national, who is a legal resident but speaks
little English, angered Latino advocates and brought widespread attention to
the Sheriff's Office.
The sheriff said officials are trying to speak with the president of the
company of at least one of the test manufacturers.
"What we are going to do now is check with the manufacturers and find out
what they have found can cause false positives and put that into the
training with our officers," Duncan said.
Three different field tests indicated the presence of cocaine in food
Hernandez said was a gift for his sister in Johnson City, Tenn.
Already in jail under a $1,500 bond for failing to heed blue lights and
sirens and driving while intoxicated - a charge later dropped after a
breathalyzer test showed no alcohol - Hernandez was charged with cocaine
possession and his total bond raised to $300,000.
Deputies say they rushed the food to a state lab for a more definitive test,
where they soon learned there were no drugs involved. Hernandez was found
guilty of failing to heed lights and sirens and let go on time served.
Confused deputies later redid the tests, which rely on a color change, and
noticed that cheese set it off the most, as did the dough, to a lesser
extent, Sorrells said.
They then went to state lab technicians.
"They said, 'It's not common, but it is known. It's not the first time they
had ever heard of it," Sorrells said.
Deputies have contacted the manufacturers of the tests to try to get more
information, he said.
The sheriff, meanwhile, said his office would reimburse Hernandez for the
food.
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